Effect of Sensorimotor Groups on Gross Motor Acquisition for Young Children with Down Syndrome

Purpose: To examine whether participation in sensorimotor groups and individual intervention resulted in greater improvements in motor skill acquisition than solely individual intervention for young children with Down syndrome. Methods: Ten children with Down syndrome, 13 to 29 months of age, participated. Children in both groups received individual intervention, and children in the intervention group participated in 10 weekly sensorimotor groups. All children were assessed at 3 points using the Gross Motor Function Measure and Goal Attainment Scaling. Results: Children in the intervention group demonstrated significant improvement compared with children in the control group at the p < 0.10 level in lying and rolling, crawling and kneeling, and total score domains of the Gross Motor Function Measure and in Goal Attainment Scaling. Conclusions: Participation in sensorimotor groups and individual intervention resulted in greater improvement in motor skill acquisition than solely individual intervention for young children with Down syndrome. Additional research to support these exploratory findings is needed. (Pediatr Phys Ther 2009;21:158-166)